Deep cuts ordered in Bridgeport's ed budget request

Published 11:42 pm, Thursday, February 25, 2010

BRIDGEPORT -- After spending two nights presenting a budget proposal of $236.8 million for 2010-11, city school officials were given some homework: Reduce the bottom line by $15 million, if not more.

Hoping to short circuit the annual request-denial-cut tango that school and city officials engage in each year at budget time, Patrick Crossin, the new chairman of the Board of Education's Finance Committee, told school administrators to start making the tough decisions now.

"There is no way we are going to get $236 million from the City Council. It just isn't going to happen," said Crossin. "We can go and scream and jump up and down and bring every parent out in the world. It's not going to happen."

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Crossin said he would like to submit an education spending plan of $221 million to the council, which is $6 million above this year's budget and represents a 1-mill increase in taxes. "If lightning strikes, maybe we'll get a portion of that," he told members of his committee Wednesday.

More than likely, he said, school officials should be prepared to get no more than a $215 million operating budget for the third year running.

"You think we're not going to get anything?" asked board member Maria Pereira.

"Welcome to the real world," responded Crossin, advising staff that "everything is on the table."

A $236.8 million operating budget, 9.73 percent higher than current spending, was called a "maintenance budget" by Superintendent of Schools John Ramos when he unveiled his budget request for board members this week.

The only increases beyond contractual salary obligations is the addition of costs for the new regional Discovery Magnet School, which is expected to open in rented space next fall, and an attempt to fill 13 vacancies among custodial ranks. Those two items add $964,805 to the budget.

It was estimated none of the increase would come from state aid. Some $168 million of the district's operating funds are allocated by the state. Under that scenario, the city would have to increase its contribution by 34 percent, from $51.4 million to about $69 million.

Benjamin Barnes, the district's interim finance director, said there are still uncertainties about health and transportation costs. The bus contract is up next year.